I fell in love with Julie Soto’s writing when reading her first book - and this novel is just as good! The connection and sexual tension between Gwen and Xander is perfectly written with the right amount of imagery. I could imagine the scenes in my head as the author describes the bond between them in musical terms. Breathtaking! This story had me engrossed and I enjoyed the reading journey so much.

Looking at the cover of this book made me rush to read it, and I was hooked from the very beginning. The cover picture depicts one of the steamiest scenes in the book, and it will live rent free in my mind forever. Who knew that string music could be so hot? Alex and Gwen's chemistry is off the charts, and I'm obsessed with them.

The descriptions of these two staring at each other while they play their instruments gave me life. I loved that we got to see little glimpses into how Alex was feeling through shorter chapters spread throughout the book. Seeing him pine for Gwen while she was pining for him added so much to the story.

The scenes of them playing music together were so beautifully written. I could feel the passion, pining, angst and tension between the two of them, and it just flowed on to the page.

There was so much emotion from this story. Both Gwen and Alex grew together and separately, and their growth helped bring them together.
Being set in NYC really made the story come to life, and it was almost like the city was a character in the story.

I can't put into words how much I loved this book. I can't wait to reread it and I can't wait to purchase it when it comes out in July.

Absolutely adored this book!! It was so swoony and romantic. The characters jumped off the page and felt so real to me. Highly recommend!!

Julie Soto does it again. I read Forget Me Not and was instantly hooked. When I saw this was available I literally booked it and requested it as fast as my fingers could let me. It took me a little while to read and I will regret not reading it sooner everyday, The tension! The Yearning! The romance! This is exactly what I want when I read a romance.

I love that she walks the line between spicy and romance. Her books make me so committed to the characters and I care about what happens to them.
I also went to Spotify as soon as I finished and listened to everything I could find. Jesu, joy of mans desiring and creep by midnight string quartet are god tier and I will never recover from this book. I will be thinking about it constantly. I already am planning on re-reading both of her books. I love you Julie Soto!!

This book was so sweet and fun!

This book was really unique and refreshing, I loved the backdrop of the Pops orchestra and the politics behind the different chairs and the competitive nature of the profession. It gave the book the best type of tension between the main characters. The pacing was perfect as was the character development. I just fell in love with both of them! Their banter and chemistry were perfect. Definitely one of my favorite romance reads of the year.

This book was simply amazing. I couldn't stop reading. I loved the chemistry between Alex and Gwen. I would definitely recommend it.

This was absolutely beautiful! I loved every second of it. It's definitely more for the "read-between-the-lines* readers. I loved the whole premise of it, the little Ama & Elliot cameo's were everything!! Our main characters are flawed and we love it about them. It's not your average love story with an HEA, you'll have to suffer for it. I started crying at about 85% and I've not stopped once till the end. I would recommend this if you want your heart to be broken and repaired in the span of just one book. 10000 tears out of 10.

Julie Soto is two for two. I had high expectations going into this book and they were all surpassed. Only Julie could make me want to pick up my flute that I stopped playing in middle school again in hopes that I would meet my soulmate.

Alex and Gwen are so complex and hot, I think I might love them more than Ama and Elliott. I know that Julie is only going to get better and I'm excited to see it!

Not Another Love Song is a steamy, rivals to lovers romance set in New York. Gwen is a violinist for the Pops Orchestra and unbeknownst to her, Xander is after the first chair position she's just been offered. I finished this book in two days because I didn't want to put down. The rivalry, the music descriptions, and the extra steamy scenes were all amazing. I love everything Julie Soto writes.

4.5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Forever for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have been going through one of the worst reading slumps of my life and this is the first book I’ve thoroughly enjoyed for quite some time now so that says a lot! Overall, the writing, the tension, and romance development were all great. I honestly had very few complaints which included the fact that the mmc was quite experienced (sexually and romantically) whereas the fmc only had bad sexual experiences and no relationship experience whatsoever. I am not a big fan of this double standard trope but other than that, I had a great time with this book! I will definitely be checking out more books by this author in the future!

Julie Soto does no wrong! I absolutely devoured this book just as I did Forget Me Not. Dare I say this was better?? Which is hard for me to say since Forget Me Not is one of my all time favorite books. I also loved that we got to see those characters again! How I have missed them! This was truly one of the first reading experiences since the loss of my dad that had me truly engaged and belly laughing Had me forgetting the hard times in the present and just living in my book. I truly love Julie's writing and her humor! This is STEAMY! Like spicier than I was anticipating! The cello scene! I'm blushing! Julie continues to be one of my favorites! Her writing just feels like home!

This book was exactly what I needed in my life!

This book is a fast paced rivals-to-lovers/he falls first MASTERPIECE and I am obsessed. Two string players compete for center stage at the Manhattan Pops orchestra and oh boy do things get heated🥵 the banter in this book was top notch and the spice was SPICY!🌶️ who knew string instruments could be so sexy?!!

Rating: 4.5/5

↠↠ Well who knew classical music could be this hot?

Julie Soto does it again! I became utterly obsessed with Gwen and Xander to the point where I was sooo mad at some of their choices (I’m still salty, in fact).

Listen, you give me a broody/cocky MMC who plays the cello and you KNOW I will fall for him. When I tell you that the music studio scene has become my new Roman Empire! So hot, so unexpected. IYKYK.

The moment Xander got over his rockstar attitude, I was utterly in love with him. Gwen….my baby, who has gone through so much. You deserve this kind of love.

I also learned way more about the ins and outs of an orchestra than ever before, plus the New York setting was extra special for me. Fun fact, I just got to attend my first concert at Carnegie Hall two weeks ago and all I could think about was THIS BOOK.

Julie Soto delivers once again! What a beautiful story, wonderful and sexy (hello cello scene) story. Thank you for the chance to read this in advance!

I absolutely devoured this book. Once I picked it up, I couldn’t put it down! I was so enamored by blank and blank. I’m very picky about the enemies to lovers trope. I’ve read many that didn’t work for me, but this one was done perfectly. The chemistry between them was palpable.

5 stars, no notes. But actually the hype was not wrong, it is such a good romance. Julie Soto is an artist. I loved the premise, which felt very reminiscent of one of my all time favorite shows, Mozart in the Jungle. There is the conflict of doing what you love but also wanting success or stability. The romance was great with an enemies to lovers premise and despite faults, the main characters were very likable. There were expected ups and downs, but other then some initial slow burn and a small third act breakup, Soto does not leave readers hanging. Will be recommending the book to everyone I know and eagerly look forward to more books from the author. Final note, don't skip the intro author's note, totally worth the read. (Thanks to Netgalley and Forever for the ARC)

This was my first Julie Soto book and I will absolutely be returning for more!

I loved the female love interest and I loved the male love interest. The biggest thing that usually knocks a romance down for me is motivation of the characters. Why are they suddenly in love with this character? Why are they doing what they are doing? And in this romance, both characters felt fully fleshed out on their own, without using their romance as their main personality trait.

The banter, the tension, the music, the chemistry, everything hit for me in this book and I devoured it in 24 hours.

If you love brooding men, music rivals, music theory, honestly music in general, forced proximity, the little moments between character, then I HIGHLY recommend!!

4.75 ⭐️

I didn't realise how much I missed Ama and Elliot until they appeared (briefly) and I was just so happy to see them, like old friends!

Something about Julie's writing makes you feel connected to her characters on a personal level that few other authors achieve.

I loved getting to know brand new characters and I feel influenced to go to my local symphony! The tension and the banter was TOP TIER. I will scream to everyone I know about how amazing Julie’s books are

Such an excellent read! The ending made my heart ache, the characters felt real, the story held my rapt attention the entire time. The pacing was a little fast at times and a little slow at time, making for a kinda jarring feeling. I wish the pacing was a little more consistent.

4.5 stars rounded up

Tropes include
✅ Grumpy Sunshine Vibes
✅ Found Family
✅ Work Place Romance
✅ Enemies to Lovers (not quite but close enough)

What a fantastic follow up from Julie Soto! As someone who has played an instrument for most of her life, I've always dreamed about looking across the band and having the connection, so it feels like this book came straight from my fantasies, Xander included. Boy, does he find the person that meets him intellectually and musically, and try to figure her out in how they can move forward.

Gwen, while a music prodigy, has lot of relationships in her life that have caused her pain since a young age due to grief, so she is slightly lost. But when she gets the opportunity to become concertmaster of the Manhattan Pops Orchestra at the age of twenty two, she now has the chance to grow into where she wants to go as a musical prodigy. Then Xander comes into her life, and she tries to figure out who he is in relation to her, his past, and his present.

The connection between Gwen and Xander is undeniable. They are true matches musically, intellectually, and romantically. I swooned everytime they were on the page with one another. They grow together on the page as they figure out their futures as individuals and as a couple. They chemistry crackles and is super steamy.

Julie Soto is starting to become an auto buy author for me! I cannot wait to get a physical copy in my hands. Thanks Forever Publishing and Julie Soto for an eARC in exchange for my honest review!